Updates from MA Board of Registration of PEs and PLSs - August 17, 2017

8/22/2017

Board of Registration Votes for Mandatory Continuing Education

August 17, 2017 PE and PLS (EN) Board of Registration Meeting

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors

Continuing Education Policy in 250 CMR:

August 17, 2017 PE and PLS (EN) Board of Registration Meeting

At the August 17 Meeting of the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, this motion passed by a 5 - 3 vote, with one board member recused (ineligible to vote & out of room) and another board member arriving at the meeting after the vote:

This is the motion that was approved: “that the Board adopt the recommendations of the CPC subcommittee subject to revision or comments on the committee’s proposed draft regulations by the full Board.”

This is a major step forward on the path to mandatory continuing education in Massachusetts, but there are many steps to follow.

The next step is for Board of Registration members to submit comments by September 7 to the Board's Executive Director, Clinton Dick

When the board concludes their discussion on the draft regulations, either on September 28 or at a future meeting, the regulations would then go through additional steps, as the continuing professional competency regulations would be amending 250 CMR. Based on the past reviews of changes to 250 CMR and other licensing regulations, these steps will probably include:

Legal review by the Board’s Legal Counsel, Sheila York – including a discussion of small business impacts

Review by Division of Professional Licensure Director Chuck Borstel

Review by the office of John Chapman, Undersecretary of Consumer Protection & Business Regulation

Review by the office of Jay Ash, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Review by the office of Michael Heffernan, Secretary of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance – with a particular review on small business impacts

Review by the office of Secretary of State Bill Galvin for technical and formatting issues – including DPL filed review on small business impacts

Return to Board of Registration, which would then hold a public hearing and accept public written comments on the regulations after 30 days notice.

The Board of Registration considers comments received and votes to modify or adopt.

Then, if there are no issues, the regulations would be officially promulgated by the Secretary of State’s office usually within 3 months.

Also at the August 17 Board of Registration meeting, the Board reviewed proposed dates for their 2018 meetings. Assume that most meetings will be held on the 4th Thursday of the month, except for November, December and August.

Due to the date of the August 17 meeting, there were no updates on:

Policy Regarding Early Examination Takers

Policy Regarding the Use of the Title Engineer

In addition, during the public session, the board interviewed a candidate for the PE exam who has work experience doing engineering as an employee of a general contractor. After several questions and discussion, the board voted to accept the engineering experience submitted and allow this candidate to sit for the PE exam.

Next Board of Registration Meeting

The next meeting of the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors is expected to be on September 28, 2017 at 9:30 AM. As noted above, this meeting is expected to include a detailed discussion very draft proposed regulations for mandatory continuing education in Massachusetts. TECET Webpage with more information.